Agenda and Minutes 2011-03-16
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
TIME: 7:00pm
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact:
Katharine Baker, Chair, Community Preservation Committee
bakerkg@comcast.net
Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
(413) 587-1263
Agenda
7:00 - Public Comment
7:05 - Chair’s Report
7:10 - Minutes
February 16, 2011
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Sign contracts and MOU
7:15 - Meetings with Round 1 2011 Applicants for CPA Funds
7: 15 - Leeds Civic Association & Northampton DPW - Hotel Bridge
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7:35 - Grow Food Northampton - Community Gardens
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7:55 - Northampton Recreation Department – Florence Fields Recreation Park
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8:15 - Northampton Conservation Commission – Conservation Fund
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8:35 – Northampton Conservation & Recreation Commission and Planning
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Department – CT River Greenway
8:55 – Northampton Planning Department – Downtown Park
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9:15- Project Updates
9:20 - Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
9:30 - Adjourn
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
March 16, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St.
Members Present: Katharine Baker, Brian Adams, Downey Meyer, Bill Breitbart, Jim
Durfer, David Drake, Fran Volkmann, Joe DeFazio
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
Katharine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Members introduced themselves and welcomed new member Jim Durfer
Public Comment
None
Chair’s Report
The CPC reviewed the 2009-2010 Chair’s report.
David moved to commend Fran and Sarah for their work on the report, seconded by Jim. The
motion carried unanimously.
The CPC may want to review progress and evaluation during an upcoming meeting when the
agenda is light.
Sarah informed the CPC that there will be approximately $660,000 available in the CPA budgeted
reserve at Round 1, 2011.
Minutes of February 16, 2011
Bill moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by David. The motion carried
unanimously, with an abstention by Fran.
Meetings with Round 1 2011 Applicants for CPA Funds
Leeds Civic Association & Northampton DPW – Hotel Bridge
George Kohout, Leeds Civic Association provided an overview of the project.
Ned Huntley, DPW Director provided information about the bridge’s closure. Although it was
rehabilitated in the 1980’s, load capacities were likely exceeded, and the pavements useful life has
ended, exposing the bridge’s substructure. The bridge will require maintenance, but costs will be
less than that of a vehicle bridge since it will not require sanding or salting, and will not receive as
much wear. Funding for later stages of the project can be made available through different
channels since it is a bike/ped bridge.
George relayed that the Historical Commission supported the project, as required by the CPA
Plan.
Grow Food Northampton – Community Gardens
Lilly Lombard, Director of Grow Food Northampton provided an overview of the project. The
overall goal is to provide experiences with local, sustainable agriculture.
Tom Benjamin, landscape architect with regenerative design group provided an overview of the
master planning process, which is a work in progress. GFN and its consultants are learning about
the site and its constraints and opportunities. Agricultural history, cultural history, neighborhood
concerns, species of concern, and other information specific to the site. GFN is now requesting
$104,500 from the original $100,000 to include a crosswalk and bike rack.
The first round of 100-200 garden plots will be ready in 2012. This year will be used to cover
crop, acquire water, and increase soil fertility. GFN prefers to phase in the garden plots to
determine how it is best to manage them rather than open the floodgates to all the plots in one
season. Driveway and parking budget numbers are in flux because of information recently
received about floodplain and other site constraints. The CPC considered the Garden budget
dated 3/11/11. The budget is preliminary due to the stage of the master plan so it is likely that
exact numbers will change. CPC approval will be sought for expenditures that differ from that
spelled out in the budget.
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March 16, 2010
The CPC asked about the possible perception that gardeners should be charged more to support
the creation of the gardens.
All the CPA funds will be expended upon is creation of an open space and recreation resource,
and the project will be self-sustaining when 400 plots are available.
The Florence Community Gardens operations will be completely separate from the Burts Pit Road
gardens. However, lease fees for the garden plots will be based on the fees at the Burts Pit Road
gardens. The barn included in the budget, which is a significant expense and not part of this
request, is included to demonstrate the total vision, but funding or details have not yet been
solidified.
Recreation Department – Florence Fields
Ann-Marie Moggio, Recreation Department Director provided an overview of the project.
Berkshire Design is finalizing the construction figures, but approximately half of the area,
including four fields, parking, and drainage can be accomplished with the total budget so far.
A return to the CPA is a possibility for future construction.
Jim noted that the fields created will not represent an increase in the City’s field stock, since
several have recently been lost. The actual number of fields is difficult to represent because all
serve different purposes.
Wayne Feiden noted that the PARC grant is funded for the next fiscal year, but the LAND grant is
not in the budget for the next round. He estimated that another $375,000 will be requested from
the CPC after this cycle to complete the project.
The Committee asked about fundraising, and Wayne noted that additional funding for
maintenance is needed, and that could affect fundraising potential. Ann Marie stated that a plan
for fundraising would be in place before the fall CPC round of this year.
Conservation Commission – Conservation Fund
Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development provided an overview of the project. It will
be used for priority open space purchases. There are typically one large and one several small
purchases completed each year.
The previous round’s Conservation Fund award of $60,000 has all been encumbered to new
acquisition opportunities, and is essentially spent.
Wayne stated that a local nonprofit is being formed to hold CR’s if needed, but the Commission
also hopes to work with the Kestrel Trust for restriction monitoring.
Jim asked about the economic assessment of acquisitions. Wayne replied that an in-house
assessment of the development potential of each acquisition is completed, along with a market
assessment for cost. Appraisals are also completed for larger projects.
Conservation & Recreation Commission and Planning Department – CT River
Greenway
Wayne Feiden provided an overview of the project. Support for the Greenway trail was
demonstrated through broad endorsement of the Open Space, Recreation and Multi-Use Trail
Plan. The Plan identified top priorities for paths, the top four of which all have funding sources
except the CT River Greenway. Transportation projects require a great deal of investment up
front, before federal funding can be obtained.
The Committee asked if there are any parcels that could potentially pose problems. Wayne
replied that most of the land is owned by the railroad, but the trail would be outside the ROW.
The planned Amtrak service should not have an impact on the project; if a second track is
installed it would be on the opposite side.
Wayne noted that the trail wouldn’t be visible from the River due to a steep incline.
Northampton Planning Department – Downtown Park
Wayne Feiden provided an overview of the project. A very small park with a lot of potential use is
planned.
Wayne noted that Main Street is too wide, and presents safety hazards. A park would narrow the
street and remove some of those conflicts. A design is hoped to be completed with the help of lots
of community input. A charette with a landscape consultant is planned, and CPA funds will also
provide some construction funding.
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March 16, 2010
Downey noted that pending legislation could allow for maintenance of existing resources with
CPA funds, such as Pulaski Park. Wayne replied that Pulaski Park and the City Hall Park are both
important and would serve different niches. The committee asked for letters of support
specifically for the park beyond overall endorsements of the Open Space Plan.
Project Updates
Sarah informed the Committee that the Academy of Music preservation project and Elm Street
historic project have been completed, and the final reports are available on the web. The
Committee agreed that a site visit to the Academy would be great.
Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
The Committee agreed that the April 20 meeting should be cancelled. Public comment on
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current applications will be held April 6 so it will not conflict with April vacation.
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Recommendations will be developed on April 6 and May 4.
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Adjourn
On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM
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March 16, 2010